(no subject)

First day back in the computer lab at school, first day of people watching a very loud video (in this case of a baby laughing or crying or something) and laughing and commenting along with it loudly enough to be heard across the entire computer lab.

I've been to two of my four classes (three of five if you count the fieldwork) and I think this is going to be good. There'll be a lot of work and a lot of reading. I'm feeling slightly intimidated. But I'm going to start digging into paper preparation and writing right from the beginning this time.

Also, I heard back from the courthouse on jury duty; they're going to have me come in during my Spring break. They were awesome and understanding, so yay for that!

(no subject)

This quote is on the front page of the syllabus of my LGBTQ studies class: "I could shelter myself from conflict by leaving the conversation, but I have come to believe that the comfort we feel when we avoid hard conversations is a dangerous comfort, one that seduces us into ignorance about the experiences of others and about the full meaning of our own lives." -Mari J. Matsuda

This gets at why I feel like it's important to have discussions about difficult things in places like Facebook, and why I (when I have time) write back with opinions and thoughts in response to memes or discussions elsewhere. I think the belief that social nicety requires an illusion of agreement is a problematic one that leads to unconsidered opinions. But disagreement doesn't have to create anger or resentment either. Surely we can have civil, and even enjoyable, discussions about issues that are thought of as 'difficult' if we all come at it from in the right way.

I'm excited about this class, by the way. It's the first time it's been taught here and I feel really good about the first day.